Losing Assembly candidate Michael Allen appointed to six-figure state job

Former Democratic Assemblyman Michael Allen, who lost to Marc Levine in November's tight race for the new 10th Assembly District seat, has been appointed to a six-figure job on the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez announced Thursday that he had appointed Allen to the position, which pays an annual salary of $128,109.

Allen, a labor lawyer, decided to run for the 10th Assembly District seat after the 7th District, which he was elected to represent in 2010, was splintered by redistricting in 2011. Allen moved from Santa Rosa to San Rafael to run for the Marin seat. He formerly served as assistant majority floor leader in the Assembly, and the state Democratic Party, which endorsed him, spent heavily in an attempt to secure his election.

Levine, also a Democrat, was a San Rafael city councilman and narrowly beat Allen.

Created by the Legislature in 1943, the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board is an independent administrative court system for workers and employers seeking to challenge decisions made by the Employment Development Department.